What happened to lil' May Parker???

[sinister07]

Remember the "Revelations" storyline back in the late 90s? Osborn took baby May away and had some woman care for her. The next thing we know May is a teen and fighting crime as Spider-Girl in a "What if..." story. And this what if story has had the longest run in comic history.

But what I'm really trying to ask is why haven't Peter, MJ and May sr. said any thing about this little girl that they once had in their arms? Why hasn't any writer tried to bring lil May back into the Spidey comics? What's so wrong with Peter being a father now? Any feedback would be appreciated.

[algertman]

I think she became Xorn

[Kevinroc]

Marvel editorial says no. Being a father would make Peter seem "too old."

The last mention of baby May was in Mark Millar's Marvel Knights Spider-Man run where The Scorpion stated that Norman Osborn killed her in retribution for Harry's death.

[Sean Whitmore]

There's enough on-panel "evidence" of her survival that any future writer could easily bring her back...but that isn't the direction the wind is blowing at Marvel these days.

They'd prefer he not even be married, so a baby is right out.


SEAN

[90'sCartoonMan]

The last mention of baby May was in Mark Millar's Marvel Knights Spider-Man run where The Scorpion stated that Norman Osborn killed her in retribution for Harry's death.

Whoa! They actually mentioned her recently? I thought the general policy was that she's gone and forgotten and should never be mentioned again.

I want to say Peter and MJ went through months of therapy (so I guess now they don't have to mention May again).

But yeah, having kids would make Peter too old, hence why in Sins Past the kids turned out to be Norman's.

[sinister07]

There's enough on-panel "evidence" of her survival that any future writer could easily bring her back...but that isn't the direction the wind is blowing at Marvel these days.

They'd prefer he not even be married, so a baby is right out.


SEAN


I understand what you're saying. But it was dumb on Marvel's part for letting MJ get pregnant if they decided just to get rid of lil' May in the end. In real time Peter and MJ have been married since 1987 and it was only a matter of time before she got pregnant. Well I won't forget lil' Ms. Parker and I'm sure someone will convince the big shots at Marvel to bring her back. I really don't see how a baby automatically ages Spidey.

Reed and Sue have 2 kids and they still have their youthful looks. Luke Cage became a father this year and it's not like he's as old as Father Time now. Why is Marvel so afraid to bring more babies into their universe is beyond me. It's the natural way of things.

[Sean Whitmore]

Whoa! They actually mentioned her recently? I thought the general policy was that she's gone and forgotten and should never be mentioned again.


They also mentioned Ben Reilly in that same arc. :D Which made me happy.


SEAN

[PersonaDark]

Does anyone feel that her existence, or at least the higher ups not ignoring it like stubborn children, would have really added more to Civil War and his unmasking? Or Aunt May and MJ's opinions would have been completely different?

Would have been interesting to see 6-8 year old May dealing with her dad being a celeb and so on.

[GRANT!]

I understand what you're saying. But it was dumb on Marvel's part for letting MJ get pregnant if they decided just to get rid of lil' May in the end. In real time Peter and MJ have been married since 1987 and it was only a matter of time before she got pregnant. Well I won't forget lil' Ms. Parker and I'm sure someone will convince the big shots at Marvel to bring her back. I really don't see how a baby automatically ages Spidey.

Reed and Sue have 2 kids and they still have their youthful looks. Luke Cage became a father this year and it's not like he's as old as Father Time now. Why is Marvel so afraid to bring more babies into their universe is beyond me. It's the natural way of things.

Fantastic Four was always seen as a book about a family. Reed and Sue were always seen a the father and mother figure to the group. So them having kids doesn't really destroy the dynamic. Spider-man is more about a young guy dealing with his powers and personal life.

There's also something really irresponsible about a husband and a father in his late thirties going out looking for trouble while working a day job. It might make for interesting stories like Peter missing his kids piano recital because he's getting his ass kicked by Doc Ock but at the same time doesn't make what Peter is doing seem right.

As for Luke Cage he is a second string character. Not really as iconic as Spider-man. You can get away with changes to guys like Luke Cage. There isn't as much of general expectation of what you get from a Luke Cage then what you get from a Spider-man book.

[Loestal]

Does anyone feel that her existence, or at least the higher ups not ignoring it like stubborn children, would have really added more to Civil War and his unmasking? Or Aunt May and MJ's opinions would have been completely different?

Would have been interesting to see 6-8 year old May dealing with her dad being a celeb and so on.


She would still be an infant at this point in time in Marvel time. Revalations was probably only about 2 years ago in 616.

[Expletive Deleted]

It was surgically removed as part of the reassignment process.

[Michael P]

Didn't Tom DeFalco later reveal that the bundle Osborne gave the nurse was a kitten?

[Sean Whitmore]

Didn't Tom DeFalco later reveal that the bundle Osborne gave the nurse was a kitten?


I don't remember that. However, I do remember that the Scriers killed Mongraine (the nurse) for the bundle, and then Kaine stole it from them. So unless they're all psychotic pet-lovers, that's enough to suspect it was May. :)


SEAN

[Kevinroc]

I understand what you're saying. But it was dumb on Marvel's part for letting MJ get pregnant if they decided just to get rid of lil' May in the end. In real time Peter and MJ have been married since 1987 and it was only a matter of time before she got pregnant. Well I won't forget lil' Ms. Parker and I'm sure someone will convince the big shots at Marvel to bring her back. I really don't see how a baby automatically ages Spidey.

Reed and Sue have 2 kids and they still have their youthful looks. Luke Cage became a father this year and it's not like he's as old as Father Time now. Why is Marvel so afraid to bring more babies into their universe is beyond me. It's the natural way of things.

You have to remember that the original plan was for Ben to really be Spider-Man and for Peter to go off and have a happy ending with MJ. But once those plans changed and Peter was going to be Spidey again, it was obvious that certain plans had to change.

[littleredhat]

I was just thinking about this earlier. Even as a baby May would have to be interesting in order to last in the 616 U. This could be acomplished by delving into her M2 nickname "Mayday". I see May as a perpetually adorable yet destructive toddler always causing havoc for her parents and any babysitter the Parkers can rangle into giving them a break.

I think she would look best in brown pigtails and cute little dresses that will not stay clean.

This would also solve the super model wife "problem" because MJ would stay home to watch May.

[Sean Whitmore]

This would also solve the super model wife "problem" because MJ would stay home to watch May.


That "problem's" already been solved. She's currently an actress in a rundown little theater. :)

I remember during the time of the pregnancy, I was looking forward to a little spider-powered baby crawling around the ceilings of the Parker home, with Peter teaching her life lessons learned from his departed aunt. But, c'est la vie.


SEAN

[sinister07]

Does anyone feel that her existence, or at least the higher ups not ignoring it like stubborn children, would have really added more to Civil War and his unmasking? Or Aunt May and MJ's opinions would have been completely different?

Would have been interesting to see 6-8 year old May dealing with her dad being a celeb and so on.

If lil' May was still vital in the spidey-books, then I believe Spidey would have stopped kissing Tony Stark's ass and sided with Cap instead. If I had a child, then the child would have come first. And I believe Spidey would have done everything and more to protect her. Yeah, I'm a spidey-fanatic for life!

[sinister07]

Fantastic Four was always seen as a book about a family. Reed and Sue were always seen a the father and mother figure to the group. So them having kids doesn't really destroy the dynamic. Spider-man is more about a young guy dealing with his powers and personal life.

There's also something really irresponsible about a husband and a father in his late thirties going out looking for trouble while working a day job. It might make for interesting stories like Peter missing his kids piano recital because he's getting his ass kicked by Doc Ock but at the same time doesn't make what Peter is doing seem right.

As for Luke Cage he is a second string character. Not really as iconic as Spider-man. You can get away with changes to guys like Luke Cage. There isn't as much of general expectation of what you get from a Luke Cage then what you get from a Spider-man book.

You say Spidey is a young guy dealing with powers and a personal life, right? He's been doing this for years. Marvel time and real time is different...I know this. But Peter went through high school, college, the work force, death and marriage. How much more life experiences does he need to have before he becomes a father? It's not like he doesn't know how to handle kids. But if that was the case, then why was he teaching 10-graders?

Having a kid would make Spidey more mature than he was before. I feel he still could be an Avenger and be less stressed about fighting crime becasue he'll finally have backup. He won't have the weight of the world on his shoulders as much.

Luke Cage is a second stringer? Are you serious? If that was true, why would he have such a pivotal role as an Avenger. It's not like he's on the reserves. Cage told Cap how it was going down if he joined the team. Cage even had the Avengers do street patrol right before Michael the mutant came to town. Second stringers don't get that type of attention or treatment. I respect your opinion and you're entitled to it. But I'm so tired of not seeing more heroes/people of color having a more active role in comics. Things may have changed for my favorite black heroes...but I want to see more change.

[sinister07]

You have to remember that the original plan was for Ben to really be Spider-Man and for Peter to go off and have a happy ending with MJ. But once those plans changed and Peter was going to be Spidey again, it was obvious that certain plans had to change.

You're right about that. But Marvel should make up it's mind. They should have known the fans would not go for Spidey heading off to greener pastures while his replacement was patrolling the NYC. The plan was already in motion and Marvel felt the pressure of what they did. What a smart idea. But I still know lil' May exists.

[GRANT!]

You say Spidey is a young guy dealing with powers and a personal life, right? He's been doing this for years. Marvel time and real time is different...I know this. But Peter went through high school, college, the work force, death and marriage. How much more life experiences does he need to have before he becomes a father? It's not like he doesn't know how to handle kids. But if that was the case, then why was he teaching 10-graders?

My basic argument is when got a character like Spider-man that well known over the world you kind of have to be careful about what you do with him. People have a basic idea what Spider-man is even if they never read the comics. You kind of want to keep what made that character special for previous generation intact for future generations.

I mean if he starts raising a kid what happens next? The kid grows up and becomes Spider-girl? Peter gets old and dies? Would we have generations and generations of Spider-men and and Spider-women? Or do we just keep redoing the Spider-man origin story every ten years? The mythology is already confusing enough that I can see why the kids who loved the Spider-man movies are avoiding the comics.

Having a kid would make Spidey more mature than he was before. I feel he still could be an Avenger and be less stressed about fighting crime becasue he'll finally have backup. He won't have the weight of the world on his shoulders as much.

Thing is Spidey doesn't work as well when he's mature. He works better as young guy making mistakes. Part of the fun of reading the book is the fact he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. That's what being a teenager and a twentysomething is like and the best Spider-man stories capture that. But when he's in his thirties and has a wife and a kid it just doesn't work I just think does he really need the extra burden of being an unpaid vigilante that is occasionally hated by the public. I think Dikto was right in his own sort crazed Ayn Randian way.

Luke Cage is a second stringer? Are you serious? If that was true, why would he have such a pivotal role as an Avenger. It's not like he's on the reserves. Cage told Cap how it was going down if he joined the team. Cage even had the Avengers do street patrol right before Michael the mutant came to town. Second stringers don't get that type of attention or treatment. I respect your opinion and you're entitled to it. But I'm so tired of not seeing more heroes/people of color having a more active role in comics. Things may have changed for my favorite black heroes...but I want to see more change.

Luke Cage is a fun character but he's not even close to be an icon like Spider-man. There's no Luke Cage movies, no Luke Cage cartoons. Outside of comics he's an unknown property. I'm not saying he's a bad character, I like Luke Cage but I'm just saying his you can be more flexiable about what goes on in a Luke Cage comic. Still whatever his status is having a kid probably doesn't effect Luke Cage as much as it does Spider-man. What is Luke Cage basically about? It's about a guy who was raised on the streets who becomes a superhero. Having a kid doesn't ruin that.

[sinister07]

You got your points on Spidey. And if people aren't interested in evolution of iconic heroes, then they can keep on watching the saturday morning cartoons. But obviously Marvel thought it was a good idea at one time to bring a baby into the picture. And they thought it would be cool if Spidey got an upgrade on his powers. Then again, DC did the same thing to Supes. In my opinion...instead of hooking up power levels, just stick to giving the fans great stories to read. For $2.99 a book, I want my money's worth.

As for Cage...he'll never reach the iconic status of Spidey. Ain't gonna happen; I realize this. So giving him a wife and daughter wouldn't ruin his status in the Marvel universe. But the character has caught my interest when "Heroes for Hire" was brouht back in the 90s. His MK mini series was even better because it was a true, gritty story from the streets. And then when I saw him fighting alongside the Black Panther last year, I was really intrigued with Cage's evolution. Throughout the 70s he was portrayed as an angry black man going after the man. His character was probably based on all the blaxploitation movies of that time. But now Cage is a better man.

[Sean Whitmore]

As for Cage...he'll never reach the iconic status of Spidey. Ain't gonna happen; I realize this. So giving him a wife and daughter wouldn't ruin his status in the Marvel universe. But the character has caught my interest when "Heroes for Hire" was brouht back in the 90s. His MK mini series was even better because it was a true, gritty story from the streets. And then when I saw him fighting alongside the Black Panther last year, I was really intrigued with Cage's evolution. Throughout the 70s he was portrayed as an angry black man going after the man. His character was probably based on all the blaxploitation movies of that time. But now Cage is a better man.


Cage is pretty damn cool. All he needed was a little exposure outside of his own comics, which nobody was buying. :)

Thank goodness Bendis has a man-crush on Cage and featured him in Daredevil, Alias, Pulse, Secret War, and New Avengers. NOW if Cage has his own series, I'd believe it would do well.


SEAN

[Agnew420]

Remember the "Revelations" storyline back in the late 90s? Osborn took baby May away and had some woman care for her. The next thing we know May is a teen and fighting crime as Spider-Girl in a "What if..." story. And this what if story has had the longest run in comic history.

But what I'm really trying to ask is why haven't Peter, MJ and May sr. said any thing about this little girl that they once had in their arms? Why hasn't any writer tried to bring lil May back into the Spidey comics? What's so wrong with Peter being a father now? Any feedback would be appreciated.


That is a good question. I think the parable of Spidey being not only a husband, but a father too would make for a very compelling story now that he has revealed his secret identity. I read Spider-Girl from issue 0 (What If? 105 reprint) all the way to issue 90 where I decided to stop due to the fact that I felt the stories had gotten stale and the art was not fitting for a teen title. It should have had a new direction with new concepts, although May did have to deal with a lot more than her dad did. Sex descrimination, friends with abusive boyfriends and trying to live up to the legacy her father left. I feel that Spider-Girl can still be a truly top tier book, but it needs to lose a bit of the goody goody image and work with some more of the worries a teenager deals with, besides having her costume ripped off by a local boutique.